Glynn Academy senior dies Wednesday morning, the day he was to graduate

Wednesday

May 22, 2013 at 6:08 PM

Terry Dickson - Florida Times Union

BRUNSWICK | A Glynn Academy senior due to graduate Wednesday night died that morning at a "senior house" on St. Simons Island where police found alcoholic beverages. Twelve underage people were charged with possession of alcohol, officials said.

A caller to the 911 emergency center said a teenager who may have drunk too much alcohol was not breathing and had no pulse, county Police Chief Matt Doering said.

Police found 15 others ranging in age from 16 to 20 at the rental house on 12th Street on East Beach. Officers found liquor, beer, wine and marijuana. One person was also charged with misdemeanor possession of marijuana.

The preliminary investigation did not show any apparent cause of Collins' death, Durden said.

The coroner said he was told that Collins had fallen earlier, hit his head and had gone to bed. The preliminary autopsy report is expected by Thursday.

Mann said Collins had been on Oak Grove Island Tuesday night at an end-of-the-year celebration with the soccer team and had left about 9:30 p.m. and gone back to the senior house.

The school system will have counselors at the ceremony and has asked pastors from area churches to attend, he said.

"I can't tell you how sorry I am for the family, the community and Glynn Academy,'' Mann said. "I can't talk about it anymore. It's too upsetting."

Mann said he was at an assembly for the seniors Monday during which Principal Scott Spence asked the class to act responsibly and reasonably and not be the one "people will remember 20 years from now."